Pressure transducer protection valve
View Patent ↗A pressure activated valve for a three-way connection between a catheter, an injector and a pressure transducer is disclosed. The valve includes a body that has an inlet for connection to an injector, an outlet for connection to a catheter and a secondary connection for connection to a pressure transducer. The body also includes a seal seat disposed between the secondary connection in both the inlet and the outlet. The body is flexibly connected to a plug seal. The plug seal is disposed between the seal seat in both the inlet and the outlet. The plug seal is movable between an open position spaced apart from the seal seat and biased towards the inlet and the outlet and a closed position against the seal seat thereby isolating the secondary connection from both the inlet and the outlet.
1. A method of isolating a pressure transducer from a catheter line during an injection of solution from an injection source into the catheter, the method comprising:
providing a catheter having a proximal end, a pressure transducer and an injection source,
attaching a pressure activated valve to the proximal end of the catheter, the pressure activated valve providing a three way connection between the injection source, the proximal end of the catheter and the pressure transducer, the valve comprising a body comprising an inlet, an outlet and a secondary connection, the body further comprising a seal seat disposed between the secondary connection and both the inlet and the outlet, the body being flexibly connected to a plug seal, the plug seal being disposed between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet, the plug seal being movable between an open position spaced apart from the seal seat and biased towards the inlet and the outlet and a closed position against the seal seat thereby isolating the secondary connection from both the inlet and the outlet,
connecting the outlet to the proximal end of the catheter,
connecting the secondary connection to the pressure transducer,
connecting the inlet to the injection source,
injecting solution from the injection source through the inlet of the body and towards the proximal end of the catheter thereby causing a pressure increase and causing the plug seal to move to the closed position thereby isolating the pressure transducer from the pressure increase.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the body of the valve further comprises an opening to the atmosphere.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plug seal of the valve is connected to a shaft, the shaft being connected to a flexible member so that the shaft is disposed between the flexible member and the plug seal, the flexible member being connected to the body at the opening so that the flexible member seals the opening.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the shaft is semi-rigid.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the plug seal, shaft and flexible member are unitary in construction.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the flexible member of the valve is a diaphragm.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the valve further comprises a secondary seal disposed between the plug seal and both the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the method further comprises:
moving the plug seal into a secondary closed position where the plug seal moves from the open position and towards the inlet and the outlet and engages the secondary seal thereby isolating the inlet and the outlet from the secondary connection and therefore the pressure transducer.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the secondary seal comprises an annular extension from the body between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet.
9. A method of isolating a pressure transducer from a catheter line during an injection of solution from an injection source into the catheter, the method comprising:
providing a catheter having a proximal end, a pressure transducer and an injection source,
attaching a pressure activated valve to the proximal end of the catheter, the pressure activated valve providing a three way connection between the injection source, the proximal end of the catheter and the pressure transducer, the valve comprising a body comprising an inlet for connection to the inlet line, an outlet for connection to the outlet line and a secondary connection for connection to the pressure transducer, the body further comprising a seal seat disposed between the secondary connection and both the inlet and the outlet, the body being flexibly connected to a valve member, the valve member comprising a plug seal, a stem and a diaphragm, the stem being disposed between the plug seal and the diaphragm and connecting the plug seal to the diaphragm, the plug seal being disposed between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet, the plug seal being movable between an open position spaced apart from the seal seat and biased towards the inlet and the outlet and a closed position against the seal seat thereby isolating the secondary connection from both the inlet and the outlet;
connecting the outlet to the proximal end of the catheter,
connecting the secondary connection to the pressure transducer,
connecting the inlet to the injection source,
injecting solution from the injection source through the inlet of the body and towards the proximal end of the catheter thereby causing a pressure increase and causing the plug seal to move to the closed position thereby isolating the pressure transducer from the pressure increase.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises an opening to the atmosphere, the diaphragm being connected to the body at the opening so that the diaphragm seals the opening.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the shaft of the valve is semi-rigid.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the plug seal, shaft and flexible member are unitary in construction.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the valve further comprises a secondary seal disposed between the plug seal and both the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the method further comprises:
moving the plug seal into a secondary closed position where the plug seal moves from the open position and towards the inlet and the outlet and engages the secondary seal thereby isolating the inlet and the outlet from the secondary connection and therefore the pressure transducer.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondary seal of the valve comprises an annular extension from the body between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet.
15. A method of isolating a pressure transducer from a catheter line during an injection of solution from an injection source into the catheter, the method comprising:
providing a catheter having a proximal end, a pressure transducer and an injection source,
attaching a pressure activated valve to the proximal end of the catheter, the pressure activated valve providing a three way connection between the injection source, the proximal end of the catheter and the pressure transducer, the valve comprising a body comprising an inlet for connection to the inlet line, an outlet for connection to the outlet line, a secondary connection for connection to the pressure transducer and an opening to the atmosphere, the body further comprising a seal seat disposed between the secondary connection and both the inlet and the outlet, the body being flexibly connected to a valve member, the valve member comprising a plug seal, a stem and a diaphragm, the stem being disposed between the plug seal and the diaphragm and connecting the plug seal to the diaphragm, the diaphragm being sealably connected to the body at the opening to the atmosphere, the plug seal being disposed between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet, the plug seal being movable between an open position spaced apart from the seal seat and biased towards the inlet and the outlet and a closed position against the seal seat thereby isolating the secondary connection from both the inlet and the outlet;
connecting the outlet to the proximal end of the catheter,
connecting the secondary connection to the pressure transducer,
connecting the inlet to the injection source,
injecting solution from the injection source through the inlet of the body and towards the proximal end of the catheter thereby causing a pressure increase and causing the plug seal to move to the closed position thereby isolating the pressure transducer from the pressure increase.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the valve further comprises a secondary seal disposed between the plug seal and both the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the method further comprises:
moving the plug seal into a secondary closed position where the plug seal moves from the open position and towards the inlet and the outlet and engages the secondary seal thereby isolating the inlet and the outlet from the secondary connection and therefore the pressure transducer.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the secondary seal comprises an annular extension from the body between the seal seat and both the inlet and the outlet.